HSP News

The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (PMHB), HSP's quarterly scholarly magazine published since 1877, is one of the country's most prestigious state historical journals. The position of PMHB Editor has recently become available, and HSP is now accepting applications. Further information, including how to apply, may be found here.

Independence Hall stands as one of our nation's most recognizable landmarks. In popular memory, the former Pennsylvania state house is intricately woven into the early fabric of our country and our city. As a symbol of justice, equality, and freedom, only the national flag is more familiar to Americans.

This month at the 2015 National Genealogical Society's Family History Conference, the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) announced that it has named the Greater Philadelphia APG Chapter the winner of the 2015 Golden Chapter Award.

"Where should a researcher go to find photographs of the world’s first solarpower plant, built in Egypt in the 1910s by a Philadelphia-based inventor? Or the scrapbooks of renowned actress, singer, and special representative to the United Nations Pearl Bailey?
Or the records of the oldest continuously existing troop in the US National Guard? These important collections are not held at well-known, professionally run archival institutions, but at small repositories without professional archivists on staff."

“Without our demonstrations starting in ’65, Stonewall would not have happened.”

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Lee Arnold spoke with Frances Rivera of MSNBC Live on May 14, 2015, about a deadly train crash in Philadelphia nearly 72 years ago. Known as the Congressional Limited Wreck, the 1943 incident occurred eerily close to the site of the May 12, 2015, fatal derailment of Amtrak Train 188. Please click here to view the feature.

Imagine a free virtual online library of rare historical books from all over the world to help you discover rich, unknown details about the lives of your ancestors. HSP is helping to make this dream a reality. Check out FamilySearch's news about 200,000th digitization milestone below:

Radicals. Agitators. Troublemakers. Liberators. Called by many names, the abolitionists tore the nation apart in order to make a more perfect union. Men and women, black and white, Northerners and Southerners, poor and wealthy, these passionate antislavery activists fought body and soul in the most important civil rights crusade in American history. What began as a pacifist movement fueled by persuasion and prayer became a fiery and furious struggle that forever changed the nation.